Energy News: The Week in Review

Here’s a cross-section of the energy conversations that took center stage last week:

The Guardian reported on the opening of the world’s largest offshore windfarm, located in the Thames estuary, which will power 470,000 homes.

CleanTechnica reported the Empire State Building’s energy efficiency retrofit model will be used in nearly 100 major commercial buildings across the U.S.

Renew Economy reported the longest-running concentrated solar power plant in the U.S. is at the end of its power purchase agreement, but the owners are seeking a new 20-year PPA and hope to upgrade the plant and add storage.

Autoblog Green reported on new rules for EV charging etiquette for using public charging stations.

CleanTechnica, citing a report by the Center for American Progress, reported the U.S. can cut carbon emissions and boost the manufacturing sector simultaneously.

The New York Times reported wind power company Sinovel was charged with stealing software from a competing firm.

Autoblog Green reported a Toyota hydrogen fuel cell vehicle with a 300-mile range may be available in the U.S. as early as 2014.

Greentech Media described SolarCity’s new energy efficiency software that provides homeowners a self-guided tour of their energy use.

The Guardian reported Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti, the U.K.’s special representative to foreign secretary, claimed climate change poses as grave a threat to the U.K.’s security as terrorism.

CleanTechnica reported the United Church of Christ has become the first major U.S. religious body to divest its pension funds and investments from fossil fuel companies.

Renewable Energy World reported Google will power its data center in Finland with wind energy from a planned 72-megawatt wind farm in Sweden.